Nifty News

Faithful Followers

Sunday, August 31, 2008

OK, thank you to my many readers who took the time to explain what a reader is. It was really helpful to me. In fact, I signed up and put a bunch of blogs in my reader! I'm becoming technologically non-stupid! Yay me! HERE'S a video that one of my readers sent me which, I think, explains it in really simple terms.

What is "the auction" that you are talking about?Oh, it was a silly auction for Pokemon cards that I had on eBay a little over a year ago. The thing went viral. People emailed me on my eBay account and asked if I'd ever written anything. I told them that I had a blog and people flocked here. I count my blessings every day because of how things worked out. HERE'S the original auction text.

Here is a question for your next SSO: have you ever tallied up the months--I mean YEARS--of your life that you have spent either breastfeedig or pregnant (or maybe even both at the same time!)? Oh come on! Math? You want me to do math? Let's see, 4 1/2 years pregnant, and I'm really not sure how many years I spent breastfeeding. Maybe 5 or so years? The shortest was about 4 months and the longest was 15 months because she refused to take a cup or bottle! Who do you think that was?

I saw a Wii Fit in the Toys R Us in Vernon Hills this past Friday. I would be happy to pick it up for you and then meet you somewhere for lunch (I'm a lurking fan, not a stalker).LOL! Thank you so much for your offer, Donna! I think, at this point, that I'll just wait and get it for a family Christmas present. Thanks so much though!

Speaking of diapers... were any of your kids potty trained before the next one came along or have you been changing diapers (sometimes on multiple children probably) for 14 years straight? Also, do you ever wish you used cloth diapers for the budget and environment's sake?Yep, I've been wiping butts for almost 14 years straight. Sometimes 2 at a time and for a short while, even 3 at once. I should probably say that I wish I would've used cloth diapers, but in all honesty - I think disposables are an awesome invention. I know, I know - not environmentally friendly, but oh so convenient.

Oh my gosh, I'd be so afraid of the kids starting school the next week and using that [peeing in the van] as their "what I did this summer" story to share with the class. Did you warn the kids that WHAT HAPPENS IN THE VAN, STAYS IN THE VAN?!? You know, that would've been better than the story they DID tell everyone! I heard Lexi tell someone (no less than 10 times) that she was crushed under the garage door. Ugh. (Btw-the garage door is now fixed and all safe-like!)

Dawn--why did you get the cortisone injection? Because I needed an excuse to get out of aerobics this week.

So, did you tell the owners of the speriment'ed toothbrushes?Heck no! I just threw 'em in the dishwasher. Voila! Nice and sanitized. Shhhh, don't tell anyone!

Am I the only one who is amazed how clean your house always is in these pictures? BAAAA!!! Oh LOL! Snort! ROFL!!! Oh ouch! I pulled something!

As for the experiement, that is too funny! Kids love trying out things...Maybe you could get him a neat science kit for Christmas? :) Yeah, you know either that or a cage.

can he go to preschool? he'd probably do well there..and you'd do well with him there =)SEVEN MORE DAYS!!!

Dawn, I'm relatively new to reading your blog, but I was wondering. You talk about having at least one of your DC on a special no artificials/no preservatives diet. By chance, is it the Feingold diet, or do you just try to read labels? Yep, that's the one. :)

Also, I'm sure you've covered this before, but how do you find out what people type in to get to your blog?I use statcounter.

I think I know what the writer of the phrase 'I yearbook myself laugh' was looking for. Check out this site: http://yearbookyourself.com/Oh my gosh! That was great! Hee hee

Here's me in 1960! I look like my mom!

i have a question and please don't take this as judgment on you as a parent, but do the other kids step in and give her [Brooklyn]what she wants when she throws a fit?You mean like when I say, "Oh for the love of all that is holy, will you just give her your Gameboy! I know it's yours. I know she can't play it. But do you want to hear her scream anymore???"

And what kind of shoes are you wearing that you end up with this stuff?These are my new shoes! They are so comfy! My kids hate them, so naturally, I wear them every day.

Has Brooklyn seen in the videos of herself having a fit?Oh yes. She looks at herself, smiles, and says, "That's me! I crabby!"

Dawn, you really should consider you might be allergic to bee stings, and your reaction will only get worse next time if you are.Yeah, I thought of that and called my doctor when the dizziness didn't go away after several hours. He didn't seem too concerned though. When I asked the nurse if I could have a worse reaction the next time, she said, "There's no way to tell. Just go to the ER if you do."

Hubby and I have been reading a book called Scream Free Parenting. It's AWESOME! Have you heard of/read it?Yep, I sure have! I wrote about it HERE.

I can totally picture you buckling Savannah in, unbuckling her, putting the dreaded pink jammies on her, etc. while the child wails.LOL! This struck me as funny because Savannah is my 12 year old! Hee hee. I don't think she'd throw a tantrum if I put pink pajamas on her although I'm pretty sure she'd think I'd lost my mind.

I am a nanny to twin three year olds. One sounds just like Brooklyn. He can throw a tantrum over the smallest thing. His twin brother is as mellow as can be, and has probably had one tantrum in his life. This prooves to me that some kids are just strong willed, and some are not. You can't help what's in their genes, and I think a lot of people with (easy) kids don't understand that. I think you hit the nail right on the head. Kids are all different. And that's a good thing. It would be pretty boring if everyone was the same. :)

Is the rumor true that the name of your new web site is going to be called "Mom to My Seven Pack"? That's not funny Rick!

I have a new coping mechanism for tantrums which is just to stare blankly at my children while they flail. As if I'm not involved, and they are just some street urchins I stumbled across on the street. And you know what? It doesn't work. LOL! You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to sip a glass of wine while staring at them. It still won't work, but you'll feel a whole lot better.

By the way, how do you fasten a child in their car seat while the child is having a tantrum without appearing to be physically abusing the child?????? Hee hee! I wrote about this in my book. Kids like to either play the "stiff as a board" or the "wet noodle" game and buckling them in is a workout that can burn 20,000 calories.

SSO: My son was just diagnosed with ADHD, should I use meds or the diet? which works better? And will it make his blood pressure go up like it did jax? Does it do this to every kid? which would you suggest? whats jax on right now? Jackson doesn't take medication right now. I can't tell you what to do with your child. That's a decision that you and your family will have to make after consulting with your child's doctor. Talk to the psychologist or psychiatrist who diagnosed him. Ask questions. Discuss possibilities. Then make an informed decision. And remember, you can always change. If you try one thing that doesn't work, there are many, many other treatments available.

sso q: Hey dawn I was just wondering,is savannah the most not bad kid? I mean I know she did the doornob thing but other than that I have not heard many bad things about her. "the most not bad"? I refuse to answer this on the grounds that it might jinx me.

I'm glad your heel feels better after taking that shot. I'd like to thank some of your readers that gave some good ideas on how to treat the pain. I've tried the ibuprofen and the stretching exercises, and they have helped alot. Maybe it will eventually all go away. Time will tell.Sudee in Florida

I'm a "lurker" on your blog (I read, but I don't comment). I saw in your SSO that someone was asking about disposable vs. cloth diapers. I'm not a mom (I'm only engaged! :P), but I read a lot about environmental issues.

To make you feel better, researchers are split down the middle about diapers. In the end, they feel that the washing, drying and general human waste factors of cloth diapers equals the manufacturing issues of disposable. So don't worry about it! (I know, Brooklyn is getting past the diaper stage, anyway, but you can feel better in hindsight!) I got most of the info on www.grist.org .

I love the Q&A section! I laugh so hard. Anyway, I thought you would get a kick out of this. When my now 3 year old daughter started throwing tantrums, I found something that actually stopped them (in public anyway). She wanted something at Walmart, I told her know. She threw herself on the floor and started crying. I threw myself down right beside her and started crying louder. She gave me the evil eye and I said, "Come on! Are you gonna let mommy throw a better fit than you?" Of course, people are walking by, staring the entire time. She was ACTUALLY EMBARRASSED! She fled to daddy and forgot all about what she wanted. (People don't give me strange looks anymore, I changed my hair color)

I too am a lurker but wanted you to know I love your blog. Was born and raised in Chicagoland but am now an adopted Spudder. Went to Brookfield Zoo this summer while visiting just because of you! Love the giraffe Dansko clogs, tres chic!

I love your blog...it reminds me of my life...though I only have 3 kiddos. Here's my favorite part of Bill Cosby Himself, I think about it often when you talk about Brooklyn....I also think about it when I'm yelling form the other room "Why is the baby crying?? What does he want?...Well give it to him!!...I don't care! I said give it to him!!!" Yep, that's fine parenting right there...and prooves Mr. Cosby right, parents are only interested in quiet...although I have a feeling you have to have 3+ kids for that to really, really apply!

Ok, I need to know where you got those shoes. They're so cute and they look absolutely comfy! Can you share?

And apparently Little Miss didn't get the lessons on how to throw a tantrum while being buckled in. She's a thrasher. Arms, legs, torso, head... everything! I end up using one whole arm to hold her down while trying to work around her with the other one to get her in. And I can only pray that walking in the house (however many hours later -- or what feels like hours anyway) will distract her from her constant screaming. I can't wait until next August 1 when she turns 4. Terrible 3s end then, right?

I was so happy to read that you put your kids' toothbrushes in the dishwasher!! I have four kids and routinely find toothbrushes on the bathroom floor (gross). They regularly get placed in the dishwasher, but whenever I mention this to my friends, they look at me like I'm crazy! :o)

YOU wrote that Ebay listing??? I remember my husband and I reading it almost a year ago and laughing our tushes off!! That was great. Interesting that I read your blog and didn't even know you were the same mom who wrote that. I will have to tell hubster.

Arrghghgh! I'm TOO LATE for the Blaster contest!!! You have probably already picked the 3 _super lucky_ recipients! Well thanks for sharing anyway I will look for it at Whole Foods or Chamberlain's.. just to be able to make funny faces for my daughter! (I make a mean batch of silver dollar blobcakes!) .. Just in case, please PICK ME! (0:

OK, so I'm a week behind. I just wanted to comment that I found your blog thru the Pokemon auction last year. My oldest son has his birthday later this month and he loves anything Pokemon. Last year he was turning 7 and my dh found him several of the old games. Thank you for reminding me I've just started looking for this years birthday stuff. And I love your blog, I only have 3 boys but since my youngest are 3.5 yo twins, it's like there are 6!

A little off topic, Guys... I have a question. Today I found this site:[url=http://www.rivalspot.com]Rivalspot.com - Ps3 Live Tournaments[/url] They say you can play online Nhl2k game tournaments on any console for cash... had anyone tried that before? Looks like a cool idea... Are there any other sites where you can play sports games for real moneys? I Googled and found only Bringit.com and Worldgaming.com but it looks these guys don't specialize in sport gamez. Any suggestions?